Carton structure



1942. w. F. LUCE CARTON STRUCTURE April 2 Fi led. Aug. 31, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVIQNTOR. 1451"! L Hall.

Patented Apr. 21, 1942 ri es IOFF c a 7 The, present invention relates to carton structures and particularly to cartons constructed of paperboard, fiberboard or like material and which are designed as shipping containers for the transportation of fruits, vegetables, or other shrinkable commodities.

In United States Patent No., 1 ,94i2,032 issued to me January :2, 1934, there is disclosed a shipping container having means for taking up shrinkage of fruit during transportation, the

means consisting of a flexible panel within the carton in contact with the commodity and a cleat interposed between each end of the panel and the-cover to spring the panel and maintain the same under tension. In packing such perishable goods as fruit under commercial conditions, variations in the height of the pack occur in accordance with variations in the diameter of the graded fruit. Ordinarily, under such conditions, either different internal pressures will be developed in the packed cartons or, if equal pressures are to be maintained, cartons varying in capacity must be employed.

The carton structure comprising the present invention is designed as an improvement over the structure shown in my above identified patent in that means is provided whereby the capacity of the carton container maybe varied to accommodate various gradations in the size of the fruit being packed while at the same time insuring uniform internal pressures within the commodity regardless of the graded size thereof. The provision of such a carton structurebeing the principal object of the invention, another object is to provide a spring panel assembly for cartons of the type disclosed in my prior patent which is simplified and ispossessed of a minimum number of parts, yet one which will accomplish all of the objects sought to be accomplished thereby and in a novel and effective manner.

Other objects of theinvention, not at this time enumerated, will become apparent hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a carton structure manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6} 6 of Fig. 5 and.-

Fig. 7 is .a sectional view similar to Figsgl and 5, showing another modified vform of a partially opened, inverted carton structure. I I I Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, a carton I0 constructed of fiberboard or other suitable materialpomprises a bottom ll, side walls I 2, end walls I 3,and a top (the latter being provided by inwardly directed end flaps I5 and inwardly directed side flaps I6.

The means for taking up shrinkage of the fruit during transportation comprises a spring panel P which is preferably formed of wood and which extends across the container adjacent the bottom II thereof and which is supported at its transverse endsupon one or more of a plurality of wooden cross cleats I! (three such pairs arbitrarily being shown). Wooden frames 18 of rectangular configuration are disposed in the ends of the container and the weight of any superimposed load on the container is supported by these cleats l1 and frames 18. Cushioning panels H! are secured to the inner faces of the frames I8. Wooden nailing strips 20 are employed to' seal the carton and the nails thereof extend through the cover flaps I5 and I6 and are received in the wood of the frames l8. The cleats II, the panel P, and the wooden frames I8 are secured together as a unit by the use of nails which pass through these members.

In packing the carton III with fruit, regardless of the graded size thereof, no variation in the size or in the inherent structureof the carton is required. In Fig. 1 the ends of the spring panel P are spaced from the bottom II by means of a single pair of cleats and are spaced from the frames I8 by the two remaining pairs thereof.

Such spacing of the panel from the bottom ll insures a predetermined degree of pressure on the fruit when a certain graded size of fruit is packed. In Fig. 2, the ends of the panel P are spaced from the bottom I I by means of two pairs of cleats I1 and are spaced from the frames l8 by the single remaining pair. Thus, the same degree of pressure on the fruit may be attained where fruit of a smaller graded size is packed. For a still smaller graded size, the ends of the panel are supported on the three superimposed pairs of the cleats I1 and the wooden frame is supported directly on the ends of the panel P.

In each instance the various parts of the assembly are secured together by nails.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a simplified form of panel assembly is disclosed. Wooden frames l8 disposed in the ends of the carton container [0' take care of any superimposed load while the panel P is supported at its ends on the inside of the frame at the bottom thereof. The end walls l3 are extended over the top of the frames I8 to provide narrow rim panels 2f and are extended downwardly to the plane of the panel P to provide cushioning panels Hi.

In Fig. 7, a still further modified form of spring panel construction is shown. In this form of the invention the panel assembly is adapted to be assembled after th fruit has been placed in the carton container. The container Ill is packed from the bottom and accordingly the container is inverted, the wooden frames I8 including the cushioning panels I9 are positioned in the ends of the container, and the panel P is nailed in position under tension by means of a pair of relatively heavy cleats ll The bottom flaps which comprise the bottom I l may then be closed. a

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangements of parts shown in the accompanying drawings as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, while in the various forms of carton structure the spring panel is shown positioned near the bottom of thecontainer, the panel would function equally well if positioned near the top thereof. Only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the appended claims is the same to be limited.

I claim:

1. In combination with a carton formed of iiberboard or the like having side walls, end walls, a bottom and a cover, a pair of open rectangular frames disposed in the ends of the carton and including only a pair of vertical members and upper and lower transverse members, and a spring panel having its ends supported only on the lower transverse members on the inside of the frame.

2. In combination with a carton formed from a single blank of carton material and having side walls, end walls, a bottom and a cover, a pair of rectangular frames disposed in the ends of the carton, and including vertical members and upper and lower transverse members, a spring panel having its ends supported on the lower transverse members on the inside of the frame, the end walls of the carton being extended over the upper transverse members and downwardly to the plane of the panel to provid rim panels and cushioning panels for the carton and to retain the spring panel in position.

WILLIS F. LUCE. 

